I am pretty new here and really new to Italian language and culture.

While my grandparents were "very" Italian (being first generation born in US), my parents really didn't convey any of that culture or language to me.

But I've decided to get to know my roots...learn the language, culture and even apply for dual citizenship.

Anyway...onto the point of this post...

As an English speaking American, every other language has a different tempo or rhythm to it.

You cannot simply say "g-r-a-z-i-e" with an American twang to it...you have to say, almost with your hands and to music "grrrAZia".

And honestly, I feel silly doing it! I feel like a kid playing with a grown up toy or something.

I do OK at home, with just my wife listening who also feels the same way and we speak what we know of Italian to each other and giggle.

But when I talk to a "real Italian", I feel like I'm making fun of the language by "acting Italian" just to speak the language and that I'm not really Italian.

Am I crazy or do others trying to learn the language feel the same way?

Happybunny - I understand how you might feel that way. When the language is unfamiliar still, it feels awkward to use it. Our tongues are not used to the sounds and rhythms yet. I am very shy about using my Italian to an Italian speaker also. We need to be brave though and plunge in anyway. (I'm talking to myself as well as you!) Every Italian I have met has been very happy indeed to see that I am attempting to use the language, even though I know very little. It is rather unusual (unfortunately) for an American to make the attempt. So the Italians are doubly pleased with our efforts. Not one other person in my office will even say "grazie". They may occasionally say Ciao, but that is in response to our business associates on the phone. I think it is incredibly arrogant not to at least say a few words in Italian. Our business is marketing for Italian, Spanish, French and Belgian companies. Most of the business is from Italy. No one speaks anything except English in the office. I finally took it upon myself to start Italian classes in the evening last September. I have studied French and Spanish although I have forgotten most of it.
Anyway - go ahead and speak Italian, even though it feels awkward. Your attempt will be much appreciated, I can guarantee it.

I know exactly how you feel! I know Italian is a very musical language and the varying intonations are partly what make it so pleasing to the ear, but sometimes I feel like I am mocking the native speakers even though that is not my intent at all! I guess it will feel more natural with time and practice =)

I sometimes feel that way, but mostly i just go blank when i'm put in those situations.

And honestly, I feel silly doing it! I feel like a kid playing with a grown up toy or something.
But when I talk to a "real Italian", I feel like I'm making fun of the language by "acting Italian" just to speak the language and that I'm not really Italian.

Dear Happybunny,
My English pronunciation is not that bad but whenever I try to speak English in the best way I feel like acting ! In Italy
they make you feel ridicolous if you dare to name American actors with the correct pronunciation: in Italy Clark Gable is 'Clurk Gub-la', Tyron Power is 'Tee-ron Poh-var', Tony Curtis is 'Toh-nee Coortees', Michael Douglas... 'Mee-kal Doo-glus'... Michelle Pfeiffer is 'Mee-kal Fay-phur' and so on. No one has seen the movie THE GLADIATOR but almost everyone saw 'Dah Gludee-udhor'...
Once I laughed a lot when I heard a Italian boy singing Aguilera's song I AM A GENIE IN A BOTTLE saying: 'I aim Martini in a bottle' :):):) A couple of days ago a friend of mine told me that a man was reparing a window in her house in London, then the man asked for a phone... so her Italian roomate gave him a phoen :):):)
That's why I think that it's extremely important to make all the possibile efforts to pronunciate words in the correct way.

My neighbours got a new puppy, so I asked them what the pups name was..

"Click" responded Lucio

"Click?" I questioned

"Si, Click" said Paola

Thinking "Click" was some Italian word I had never heard of, I asked..

"Che significa Click?"

"Click.. lo sa.. Click Gaybul" came the reply in unison. :D :D

I'm sorry Aliena but I didn't get it, there probably is some reference to something I'm unaware of.
Would you mind kindly explaining it to an ignorant boy? :)

I think they were referring to Clark Gable, who was a famous American actor from like the 30's or 40's I think??

yeah , I feel the same way , not just when I speak in italian , but also in English , cause It's not my native language . And because I watch a lot of movies I use the American accent . But at school , they ask us to use the British accent , And I feel so stupid when I say (mother,sure) with my awful british accent . And I'm trying to do my best when I speak or sing in Italian, even though my friends make fun of me , they think that italian is a funny language , and that I should learn french instead , which is not gonna happen .

NEW YORK NEW YORK.... with Italian pronunciation :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_Rx-v2PaVg

Love the subtitles! :D

I can honestly say i didnt listen to a word she said.....

NEW YORK NEW YORK.... with Italian pronunciation :)

-cut-

I don't know why her pronounciation makes me feel uncomfortable :confused:
I couldn't sit through it all :)

I think you are like me in that respect, Dan. I have no problem listening to someone trying to speak my language who has an accent from their own country. However, since I try very hard to get the accent right when I speak a different language than my own, I feel very uncomfortable when English speakers mangle the pronunciation of another language (e.g. Italian). There are always a few people in my Italian class who make me cringe to hear them. They just have a hard time hearing the differences I guess. So you felt uncomfortable hearing an Italian mangle the pronunciation of English.
Personally, I love hearing Italians speak English. I think they make it sound more musical than it actually is. :-)

JoeItalia you are funny!!

Ciao,

I think we (the non-italian speakers) feel this way. There is a different concentration on certain sounds than in english. You really have to just get used to putting more emotion into your words in italian. I find listening to the italian radio or watching tv shows helps get used to the inflections used.

Melanie

thanks for the feed back!

I had my first official class last night and things were much different than just "talking" with my wife...every word I knew escaped me and I was mumbling like a fool!

It's weird that we (I) just freeze up and forget words that in the quiet of my own house come rather easily.

Anyway...I'm sure I will still feel weird speaking Italian for a long while until I get more practice in real life just talking over and over again...I'm just glad I'm not alone!

Happybunny I am the same way! When one of our Italian business associates calls on the phone I get totally stressed out. I cannot think of a thing to say. I am getting a little better, but I only know a few common phrases really well. When they start firing Italian sentences at me I am a deer in the headlights for sure. LOL I am much better at writing Italian, although I certainly make a lot of mistakes.
I have been told by the Italians that my accent is really good, but that just means they think I know much more than I do - so it can be a handicap in that respect.

I know what you mean as I was born to English mother and Italian father but never allowed to speak Italian so now am larning it,keep it up Italians love the fact that you are trying and we will always help.Ihave never felt English and now my family are grown I have become the Italian I always knew I was and Im 58 so never give up we have a wonderful heritage.go and look at www.speaknpresent.com